Friday, November 20, 2009

Coming Out of the Wilderness

The Lord wants to do a new thing in each of our lives, but it requires us to "come out of the wilderness" into the new land that He has prepared for us - the place of our Inheritance! Regardless of our age or work history, we have been toiling under the hand of the taskmasters in the old field of labor - whether we're stay-at-home moms or corporate executives. We have been through a long period of "testing to know what was in our hearts" (Deut.8:2), in order that the Lord could bring us out to the place of freedom!

Gal.5:1;13 - "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery....... For you were called to freedom, brethren, only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

The test of the "new thing" the Lord is doing in each of our lives is this: Was it born according to the flesh or by the Spirit of the living God? 1 John 5:4 tells us, "For whatever is born/begotten of God overcomes the world....."

Gal.4:23,24 - "But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise..... These women are two covenants."

Nugget of Gold: This is a year to enter into our inheritance. The eyes of the Lord are upon our land and we will not be able to walk in the same manner as before. We cannot continue to serve two masters - God and mammon (Matt.6:24). We must "be about our Father's business" (Luke 2:49) and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in every step we take. We must have our minds renewed so that we're no longer walking "in the futility of our minds, being darkened in our understanding, excluded from the life of God." (Eph.4:17,18).

I believe the Lord has issued a decree on behalf of each of His children who heed His voice in this hour:

Rev.11:15 - "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever."

Monday, November 9, 2009

Foolish Virgins

Recently the Lord spoke the words "Foolish Virgin" to me. I was stunned and immediately began to seek the Lord about my condition. Matthew 25 tells us that the five foolish virgins were the ones who didn't take enough oil for their lamps as they were awaiting the return of their Bridegroom. The "lamp" represents the Word of God (Psa.119:105: "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path."), and the Oil represents the Holy Spirit.

I knew that, like many people, I was spending daily time with the Lord in the study of His word. However, something was obviously lacking. I will admit to an occasional sense of being "disconnected" with the Lord, even when He was realeasing wonderful revelation from scripture. Every once in a while, though, there would be a special time when the presence of the Lord would be so tangible that my heart would be stirred and tears would flow!

Then I saw it! Our heavenly Bridegroom wants this type of interaction with His Bride on a regular (if not daily) basis. He wants our passion to be ignited for Him, as His is for us! Only then will the oil of the Holy Spirit flow in and through us as we are filled with His presence and anointing.

Song of Songs 5:2-8 - "I was asleep, but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: 'Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with dew'......My beloved extended his hand through the opening, and my feelings were aroused for him. I arose to open to my beloved; and my hands dripped with myrrh, and my fingers with liquid myrrh....My heart went out to him as he spoke.....I am lovesick."

Nugget of Gold: The oil of the Holy Spirit is released only as we spend intimate time with the Living Word of God, allowing our hearts to be touched and stirred by our Bridegroom. This requires intentional time spent in His presence where we become united with Him body, soul, and spirit. Not only are our minds engaged, but, more importantly, our HEARTS are engaged. Jesus told the five foolish virgins, "Truly I say to you, I do not know you." He had never been intimate with them.

Oh Lord, draw us after You and let us run together as we daily go about our Father's business!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The Ministry of Angels

I believe we are living in a time of increased angelic activity and interaction with the body of Christ. The Lord is giving us heightened awareness of those who minister among us so that we may cooperate more fully with His kingdom purposes in this hour.

I had a recent vision of a "portal" open in the heavenlies over a particular area, and I was reminded of "Jacob's ladder" on which angels were ascending and descending between heaven and earth.

Genesis 28:10-17 - "And he came to a certain place and spent the night there.....And he had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it."

I believe there are many such places through which the angelic messengers carry "dispatches" to us from the Father. A "dispatch" is a message sent with speed, especially an important official message sent by a diplomatic, military, or naval officer. It is the Captain of the Hosts Himself, of course, who is sending these dispatches to His soldiers on earth as we enter a new phase of spiritual warfare. I recently had a quick vision of multitudes of angelic messengers going forth throughout the atmosphere, and I knew that many directives were being sent.

During a recent ministry time, I heard the Lord say, "Angelic Watchers". I knew He was referring to a special rank of being mentioned in the Book of Daniel:

Daniel 4:13 - "I was looking in the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, and angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven...."
Daniel 4:17 - "This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, and the decision is a command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes, and sets over it the lowliest of men."
Daniel 4:23 - "And in that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it....'"

Webster's Dictionary defines "watcher" as: "an observer; an official representative who is stationed to watch the conduct of the people (as at the poles during an election)".

Nugget of Gold: It is essential that we learn to recognize the ministry of God's angels in this day. We must ask the Lord to open our spiritual eyes to see beyond the natural and quickly obey that which the Lord is directing us to do. Psalm 103:20 tells us that the angels are "mighty in strength, and perform His word, obeying the voice of His word!" May we be fully engaged with the heavenly host in carrying out God's plans in this hour!